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Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon

Washington, DC rates for HCPCS 20520

This procedure removes a foreign object, such as a splinter, glass fragment, or piece of metal, that has become lodged in a muscle or the tissue sheath surrounding a tendon. It's the more straightforward version of this kind of removal, used when the object is relatively easy to locate and access. A small incision is typically made to reach and extract the object.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Removal of Foreign Object From Muscle or Tendon cost?

$234

Typical physician fee. In Washington, DC, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $234 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $155 to $316.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $4,074 · 10th to 90th $155 to $7,762Professionalmedian $219 · 10th to 90th $145 to $302
$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $4,074professional $219

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$4,073.80
Typical High
$7,762.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$275.42
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$2,454.71
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$537.03
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$512.86
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$3,388.44
Typical High
$8,709.64
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$549.54

Where Washington, DC sits

The same service costs 2.2 times more in Minnesota than in Delaware. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Washington, DC· 24th of 51

$234

MN $417DE $191

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.